Comedian Trevor Noah has thrown down the gauntlet in the run-up to the biggest tennis match in Africa next week.
Noah will partner with Rafael Nadal in a celebrity doubles encounter against Roger Federer and Bill Gates at the Cape Town Stadium next Friday in the curtain-raiser to the “Match In Africa” event.
Tickets for the historical match sold out within five minutes when it went on sale last year, and 48 000 mense will stiek uit to watch tennis legends Federer and Nadal – who have won 39 Grand Slam singles titles between them so far – go head-to-head.
The match – the sixth such event but a first for Africa – is in aid of children’s education on the continent, through the Roger Federer Foundation.
The two giants of the sport will arrive in Cape Town next week Wednesday.
“Hey @RogerFederer, you & @billgates want to play doubles against me & @RafaelNadal!? Okay. We accept your challenge, but be prepared for the crowd in SA to be on our side! See you Feb 7 in Cape Town! Masihambe! #MatchInAfrica” Noah tweeted yesterday.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/rogerfederer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerFederer, you & @billgates want to play doubles against me & @RafaelNadal!? Okay. We accept your challenge, but be prepared for the crowd in SA to be on our side! See you Feb 7 in Cape Town! Masihambe! #MatchInAfrica
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah)
But the crowd are sure to cheer for Swiss star Federer as well, as his mother Lynette is South African.
Noah and Gates will take to the court at 7.30pm for the doubles match, with Federer and Nadal squaring off at 8.30pm.
Spain's Rafael Nadal. Picture: Andy Brownbill/AP
Announcing the match last year, Federer said he was thrilled to play in his mother’s home country “against my toughest rival and friend Rafa Nadal”.
Nadal added: “It will be my first time in the region with Roger as a tour guide – that will be fun.”